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Mackay vs Rockhampton

Name: Mackay vs Rockhampton — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

State Electorate comparison ≈ 289 km apart · Mackay profile · Rockhampton profile

Mackay Rockhampton

Mackay and Rockhampton are two major Queensland hubs with distinct layouts. Mackay is very walkable, with 92.6% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport, while Rockhampton has no public transport stops or routes. This difference is reflected in the street connectivity and the typical resident's income, with Mackay having a well higher share of households earning $3,000 or more a week (18.7% compared to 14.3% in Rockhampton). Rockhampton is more dominated by separate houses, at 86.3% compared to 76.6% in Mackay, and has a well higher share of one-parent families at 22.0%.

The gap in typical resident age has narrowed since 2011, though people in Mackay remain noticeably older at 39 compared to 36 in Rockhampton. Both areas are very similar in other ways, with almost identical rates of volunteers, people serving in the Defence Force, and a typical home size of 2.4 people. While Rockhampton has a well higher share of recent overseas arrivals, both areas sit far below the national figure for people born overseas.

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Where they differ most

Separate houses: 9.7 pts higher in Rockhampton Unemployment: 1.8 pts higher in Rockhampton Family income: $284 higher in Mackay Needs assistance: 1.9 pts higher in Rockhampton Personal income: $94 higher in Mackay

Demographics & Identity

Population in Mackay in Rockhampton +1,896 larger in Mackay gap widening

55,815 50th pct 53,919 46th pct

Median age in Mackay in Rockhampton +3 yrs older in Mackay gap narrowing

39 yrs 50th pct 36 yrs 29th pct

Age structure

26.1% Young adults (25–44) +0.4 pts ▸ 26.6%

26.0% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +3.1 pts 22.8%

18.6% Children (0–14) +2.0 pts ▸ 20.6%

17.3% Seniors (65+) ◂ +0.7 pts 16.6%

12.1% Youth (15–24) +1.4 pts ▸ 13.4%

Marital status

42.1% Married ◂ +3.1 pts 38.9%

37.2% Never married +3.4 pts ▸ 40.6%

10.6% Divorced ◂ +0.5 pts 10.1%

6.0% Widowed +0.3 pts ▸ 6.2%

4.2% Separated ◂ +0.1 pts 4.1%

Age & sex structure

Mackay Rockhampton

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

77.4% Australia +6.2 pts ▸ 83.5%

2.4% Philippines ◂ +1.3 pts 1.1%

2.3% New Zealand ◂ +0.8 pts 1.5%

1.8% England ◂ +0.5 pts 1.3%

1.0% South Africa ◂ +0.6 pts 0.4%

0.9% India ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

0.4% China +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Vietnam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Italy ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

35.7% Australian +5.9 pts ▸ 41.6%

37.7% English +1.4 pts ▸ 39.2%

10.9% Irish even 10.9%

10.4% Scottish ◂ +0.6 pts 9.8%

6.1% German +0.4 pts ▸ 6.5%

3.1% Italian ◂ +1.8 pts 1.4%

2.9% Filipino ◂ +1.5 pts 1.5%

1.4% Chinese even 1.4%

1.4% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 1.1%

1.1% Indian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%

0.3% Greek even 0.3%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Language

Language used at home

83.2% English only +3.9 pts ▸ 87.1%

1.2% Tagalog ◂ +0.8 pts 0.4%

0.5% Mandarin even 0.5%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.3% Punjabi even 0.3%

0.2% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

0.2% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Cantonese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.0% Greek even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

50.9% Christianity ◂ +1.2 pts 49.6%

36.5% No religion +2.6 pts ▸ 39.1%

10.0% Not stated ◂ +1.5 pts 8.6%

0.8% Hinduism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.8% Buddhism even 0.8%

0.6% Other religions even 0.6%

0.4% Islam even 0.4%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools/1k kids in Mackay in Rockhampton +0.07 more in Mackay

2.51 69th pct 2.44 67th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Mackay in Rockhampton +1 more in Rockhampton

26 69th pct 27 71st pct

Students in Mackay in Rockhampton +1,514 more in Mackay

14,839 86th pct 13,325 80th pct

Avg size in Mackay in Rockhampton +77 larger in Mackay

571 67th pct 494 52nd pct

ICSEA in Mackay in Rockhampton +17 higher in Mackay

984 29th pct 967 20th pct

Highest year of school

46.4% Year 12 ◂ +0.2 pts 46.2%

25.7% Year 10 ◂ +0.2 pts 25.4%

10.3% Year 9 or below +1.8 pts ▸ 12.1%

7.1% Year 11 ◂ +0.3 pts 6.8%

Highest qualification level

39.6% Certificate III / IV ◂ +0.9 pts 38.7%

17.3% Bachelor degree even 17.3%

11.7% Advanced diploma / diploma even 11.7%

3.5% Postgraduate degree +0.5 pts ▸ 4.0%

2.5% Certificate I / II +1.0 pts ▸ 3.6%

2.4% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.2 pts ▸ 2.7%

Field of qualification

21.6% Engineering & related ◂ +4.7 pts 17.0%

14.1% Management & commerce ◂ +0.5 pts 13.6%

10.2% Health +1.7 pts ▸ 11.9%

8.7% Society & culture +3.1 pts ▸ 11.8%

7.7% Education ◂ +0.1 pts 7.6%

5.6% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.4 pts ▸ 5.9%

5.6% Architecture & building ◂ +0.8 pts 4.8%

1.3% Agriculture & environment +0.6 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.7% Creative arts ◂ +0.1 pts 1.6%

1.4% Natural & physical sciences +0.1 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.2% Information technology +0.3 pts ▸ 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Mackay in Rockhampton +$94 higher in Mackay gap widening

$834 60th pct $740 34th pct

Household income in Mackay in Rockhampton +$212 higher in Mackay gap widening

$1,623 42nd pct $1,411 23rd pct

Family income in Mackay in Rockhampton +$284 higher in Mackay gap widening

$2,089 53rd pct $1,805 26th pct

Household income distribution

24.4% $650–$1,499 +4.8 pts ▸ 29.2%

28.6% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.5 pts 28.1%

17.6% Under $650 +1.0 pts ▸ 18.6%

9.8% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.8 pts 8.0%

8.9% $4,000 or more ◂ +2.6 pts 6.3%

Personal income distribution

36.3% Under $650 +4.4 pts ▸ 40.7%

30.3% $650–$1,499 +1.5 pts ▸ 31.9%

18.7% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.3 pts 15.3%

4.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 2.7%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.0% Mental health +2.6 pts ▸ 11.6%

8.9% Arthritis +1.7 pts ▸ 10.7%

8.0% Asthma +2.3 pts ▸ 10.4%

7.6% Other condition +1.3 pts ▸ 8.8%

5.2% Diabetes +0.4 pts ▸ 5.6%

4.8% Heart disease +0.5 pts ▸ 5.4%

3.0% Cancer +0.1 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.2% Lung condition +0.7 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.0% Stroke +0.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

1.0% Dementia even 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

59.5% None ◂ +2.7 pts 56.8%

19.1% One condition +1.6 pts ▸ 20.7%

6.2% Two conditions +1.3 pts ▸ 7.5%

3.6% Three or more +1.2 pts ▸ 4.8%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Mackay in Rockhampton even gap narrowing

2.4 29th pct 2.4 29th pct

Family composition

52.4% Couples with children ◂ +1.0 pts 51.4%

28.9% Couples without children ◂ +3.8 pts 25.0%

17.3% One-parent families +4.6 pts ▸ 22.0%

1.4% Other families +0.2 pts ▸ 1.6%

Household size

34.9% 2 people ◂ +2.4 pts 32.5%

29.8% 1 person +0.1 pts ▸ 29.9%

14.5% 3 people +0.3 pts ▸ 14.8%

12.3% 4 people +1.3 pts ▸ 13.6%

5.6% 5 people +0.2 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.8% 6 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 3.3%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Mackay in Rockhampton +$40 higher in Mackay gap widening

$320 32nd pct $280 17th pct

Mortgage in Mackay in Rockhampton +$300 higher in Mackay gap widening

$1,600 29th pct $1,300 11th pct

People / bedroom in Mackay in Rockhampton even gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

34.6% Rented +1.4 pts ▸ 36.0%

33.2% Owned with a mortgage +0.3 pts ▸ 33.6%

27.3% Owned outright ◂ +0.2 pts 27.1%

2.6% Other tenure ◂ +1.0 pts 1.6%

2.3% Not stated ◂ +0.6 pts 1.7%

Types of homes

76.6% Separate house +9.7 pts ▸ 86.3%

15.1% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +7.5 pts 7.6%

6.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +1.2 pts 5.5%

1.2% Other dwelling ◂ +0.8 pts 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

44.8% 3 bedrooms ◂ +0.9 pts 43.9%

24.8% 4 bedrooms +0.6 pts ▸ 25.4%

18.3% 2 bedrooms +1.1 pts ▸ 19.5%

4.7% 5 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 5.3%

4.6% 1 bedroom ◂ +1.0 pts 3.6%

0.4% Studio / none even 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

39.9% $200–$349 +15.4 pts ▸ 55.3%

36.4% $350–$549 ◂ +13.9 pts 22.5%

16.2% Under $200 +0.5 pts ▸ 16.8%

3.1% $550–$749 ◂ +2.2 pts 0.9%

0.4% $750 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

Monthly mortgage distribution

43.3% $1,000–$1,799 +4.2 pts ▸ 47.5%

28.8% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +11.1 pts 17.7%

15.5% Under $1,000 +9.0 pts ▸ 24.5%

6.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.8 pts 4.7%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Mackay in Rockhampton +180 more in Mackay

180 28th pct 0 0th pct

Stops/1k in Mackay in Rockhampton +3.22 more in Mackay

3.22 23rd pct 0.00 0th pct

Departures/1k in Mackay in Rockhampton +259.8 more in Mackay

259.8 19th pct 0.0 0th pct

PT routes in Mackay in Rockhampton +11 more in Mackay

11 16th pct 0 0th pct

How people get to work

71.9% Car (driver) ◂ +2.7 pts 69.1%

6.0% Car (passenger) +0.8 pts ▸ 6.8%

4.0% Worked at home ◂ +0.1 pts 3.9%

2.1% Walked +0.9 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.3% Bus ◂ +0.3 pts 0.9%

0.9% Bicycle ◂ +0.3 pts 0.6%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.3% 1 vehicle +1.4 pts ▸ 38.6%

37.0% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.9 pts 35.1%

12.7% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.5 pts 12.2%

6.5% No vehicle +1.4 pts ▸ 7.9%

6.5% 4 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 6.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

15.3% Health care & social assistance +3.5 pts ▸ 18.7%

9.7% Retail trade +0.3 pts ▸ 10.0%

9.8% Mining ◂ +5.0 pts 4.8%

7.4% Education & training +1.9 pts ▸ 9.3%

8.2% Construction ◂ +0.5 pts 7.7%

7.1% Accommodation & food +0.5 pts ▸ 7.6%

4.2% Public administration & safety +2.1 pts ▸ 6.3%

6.0% Manufacturing ◂ +0.4 pts 5.6%

5.5% Transport & warehousing even 5.5%

5.1% Other services ◂ +0.6 pts 4.5%

4.5% Professional & technical ◂ +1.1 pts 3.4%

3.9% Wholesale trade ◂ +0.9 pts 2.9%

Occupations people work in

19.5% Technicians & trades ◂ +3.7 pts 15.8%

16.4% Professionals ◂ +0.3 pts 16.1%

11.4% Community & personal service +3.4 pts ▸ 14.8%

10.8% Labourers +2.1 pts ▸ 12.9%

11.3% Clerical & administrative +0.4 pts ▸ 11.7%

11.0% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.5 pts 9.5%

8.9% Sales workers +0.5 pts ▸ 9.4%

8.6% Managers ◂ +0.6 pts 8.1%

Walkability

Walk score in Mackay in Rockhampton +1.5 higher in Mackay

6.1 59th pct 4.6 32nd pct

Types ≤15 min in Mackay in Rockhampton +0.7 more in Mackay

5.9 58th pct 5.2 45th pct

15-min city in Mackay in Rockhampton +3.5 pts higher in Mackay

72.9% 55th pct 69.4% 52nd pct

Walk to shops in Mackay in Rockhampton +6.0 pts higher in Mackay

77.4% 64th pct 71.4% 57th pct

Walk to transit in Mackay in Rockhampton +92.6 pts higher in Mackay

92.6% 56th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Mackay in Rockhampton +3.7 pts higher in Rockhampton

80.5% 56th pct 84.2% 63rd pct

Walk to a park in Mackay in Rockhampton +5.1 pts higher in Mackay

99.2% 66th pct 94.0% 42nd pct

Walk to health in Mackay in Rockhampton +9.5 pts higher in Rockhampton

53.9% 56th pct 63.4% 65th pct

Amenities/1k in Mackay in Rockhampton +5.3 more in Mackay

15.9 61st pct 10.6 15th pct

Intersections/km² in Mackay in Rockhampton +39 higher in Mackay

76 48th pct 38 38th pct

Mean slope in Mackay in Rockhampton +1.3 pts higher in Rockhampton

3.4% 13th pct 4.6% 34th pct

Compare Mackay with nearby areas

Whitsunday Burdekin Mirani Keppel Rockhampton Mundingburra Thuringowa Townsville

Compare Rockhampton with nearby areas

Keppel Gladstone Mirani Burnett Callide Bundaberg Mackay Maryborough

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Mackay vs Rockhampton [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sed/SED30047/mackay/vs/SED30073/rockhampton